Successful Retirement Renewal

[mrjohn]

I went for my new retirement visa on Tuesday and, as requested here is a short description of what happened.

I was applying for the visa under the 65,000 a month system for the first time. My old visa was due to expire on the 23rd and the Embassy authorisation letter had only arrived on the afternoon of the 21st so I tried to make certain I had everything in place.

I went into Phuket Immigration at about 9 am on the 22nd well prepared with all the copies needed of my passport etc neatly arranged in a folder.

I sat down in front of the official with a sign saying “Retirement Visa” above him. He was stamping pile of papers. Without looking up he said, “Have bank book? Copy?”

“Yes,” I said, “I have a bank book but I also have a letter from my embassy.” the official repeated, “Have bankbook? Copy?” So I showed him a bankbook and he said, “No have big money! Cannot!” And waved me away with a dismissive gesture. I said. “I know here is the letter for my Embassy.” “What this?” I pointed to the £14,000 income per annum. “This one-month?” “No, this one year.” How much this?” I said, about 75, 000 baht per month.”

He looked through my passport and without looking at the copies I had already done made me get three more. I suspect that no matter how many copies of various documents you turn up with they will always ask for more.

He grudgingly gave me the form to apply for the visa which I filled in.

After everything was checked and signed I was sent over to the top man who also looked through and signed it all, having first checked the day’s exchange rate online! Beware of this the Thai baht is quite strong at the moment.

He then filled in a date for me to report back in 90 days.

I did not look at this closely until I got back home. I was a bit confused as to why I had to go back on the 8th march. After some time it dawned on me that this was 90 days from the last time I had entered the country. Presumably, if I had entered the country 88 days before I would have had to report back two days after the new visa had been issued!

The first official was astonishingly rude throughout, but then, that’s Phuket for you! Let’s hope they’ll be in a better frame of mind when their new swanky office is completed.

[jonniebkk]

The first official was astonishingly rude throughout...

Typical government bureaucrat behavior. However, I have always thought that part of the reason why many of the immigration officers that work in the offices that process retirement renewals, farang wp's, business extensions, etc., is that day in and day out they deal with foreigners from all over the world that have sh*tloads of move money that any of them (civil service clerks) could ever dream of seeing in a lifetime of hard and boring work.

I mean, just having the minimum monthly pension to qualify for a retirement extension is 5-8 times the likely salary of the guy processing your paperwork. Processing the wp/visa paperwork for some 20-something farang English teacher who is making a salary 3-5 times their own (after years of work) probably puts many of them in a sour mood as well. I know it would me

[Guest]

It has been said a few times on the forum that the 90 days report is not related to the extensions granted. Even when they only a few days apart, it must still be done.

As for surly staff, they are human and everyone (including us) have their off days. I got a re-entry permit tis morning from Suan Plu (Bangkok). The staff were not friendly, but certainly not rude, and quite efficient.

[tartempion]

He then filled in a date for me to report back in 90 days.

I did not look at this closely until I got back home. I was a bit confused as to why I had to go back on the 8th march. After some time it dawned on me that this was 90 days from the last time I had entered the country. Presumably, if I had entered the country 88 days before I would have had to report back two days after the new visa had been issued!

Well I entered the kingdom 17 Oct 2007 with a non-O visa, went to Bangkok immigration 3 Jan to obtain retirement extension and was marked for 90 days reporting 1st April 2008, got extension to 17 Jan 2009.

Officers were not extacly friendly, but all went well. Therefore I never go to Nong Khai, they have a certain very unfriendly guy over there, I would enjoy kicking his balls.

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Went into Hua Hin immigration on the 14th to extend our retirement visa for another year. The lady that helped us was very nice, in fact she noticed that my birthday had been two days before and sang happy birthday to me. She apologized for it taking an hour to complete, and told us when we come in again not to come on a Monday morning as it was always very busy. The only unpleasant part was the drive out there. The road is solid potholes.

[mackayae]

I went for my new retirement visa on Tuesday and, as requested here is a short description of what happened.

I was applying for the visa under the 65,000 a month system for the first time. My old visa was due to expire on the 23rd and the Embassy authorisation letter had only arrived on the afternoon of the 21st so I tried to make certain I had everything in place.

I went into Phuket Immigration at about 9 am on the 22nd well prepared with all the copies needed of my passport etc neatly arranged in a folder.

I sat down in front of the official with a sign saying “Retirement Visa” above him. He was stamping pile of papers. Without looking up he said, “Have bank book? Copy?”

“Yes,” I said, “I have a bank book but I also have a letter from my embassy.” the official repeated, “Have bankbook? Copy?” So I showed him a bankbook and he said, “No have big money! Cannot!” And waved me away with a dismissive gesture. I said. “I know here is the letter for my Embassy.” “What this?” I pointed to the £14,000 income per annum. “This one-month?” “No, this one year.” How much this?” I said, about 75, 000 baht per month.”

He looked through my passport and without looking at the copies I had already done made me get three more. I suspect that no matter how many copies of various documents you turn up with they will always ask for more.

He grudgingly gave me the form to apply for the visa which I filled in.

After everything was checked and signed I was sent over to the top man who also looked through and signed it all, having first checked the day’s exchange rate online! Beware of this the Thai baht is quite strong at the moment.

He then filled in a date for me to report back in 90 days.

I did not look at this closely until I got back home. I was a bit confused as to why I had to go back on the 8th march. After some time it dawned on me that this was 90 days from the last time I had entered the country. Presumably, if I had entered the country 88 days before I would have had to report back two days after the new visa had been issued!

The first official was astonishingly rude throughout, but then, that’s Phuket for you! Let’s hope they’ll be in a better frame of mind when their new swanky office is completed.

If I understand the OP correctly, the letter from the embassy stating his income of 14,000 GBP was sufficient to meet the financial requirements. Is that correct?

[henkjan]

I went for my new retirement visa on Tuesday and, as requested here is a short description of what happened.

I was applying for the visa under the 65,000 a month system for the first time. My old visa was due to expire on the 23rd and the Embassy authorisation letter had only arrived on the afternoon of the 21st so I tried to make certain I had everything in place.

I went into Phuket Immigration at about 9 am on the 22nd well prepared with all the copies needed of my passport etc neatly arranged in a folder.

I sat down in front of the official with a sign saying “Retirement Visa” above him. He was stamping pile of papers. Without looking up he said, “Have bank book? Copy?”

“Yes,” I said, “I have a bank book but I also have a letter from my embassy.” the official repeated, “Have bankbook? Copy?” So I showed him a bankbook and he said, “No have big money! Cannot!” And waved me away with a dismissive gesture. I said. “I know here is the letter for my Embassy.” “What this?” I pointed to the £14,000 income per annum. “This one-month?” “No, this one year.” How much this?” I said, about 75, 000 baht per month.”

He looked through my passport and without looking at the copies I had already done made me get three more. I suspect that no matter how many copies of various documents you turn up with they will always ask for more.

He grudgingly gave me the form to apply for the visa which I filled in.

After everything was checked and signed I was sent over to the top man who also looked through and signed it all, having first checked the day’s exchange rate online! Beware of this the Thai baht is quite strong at the moment.

He then filled in a date for me to report back in 90 days.

I did not look at this closely until I got back home. I was a bit confused as to why I had to go back on the 8th march. After some time it dawned on me that this was 90 days from the last time I had entered the country. Presumably, if I had entered the country 88 days before I would have had to report back two days after the new visa had been issued!

The first official was astonishingly rude throughout, but then, that’s Phuket for you! Let’s hope they’ll be in a better frame of mind when their new swanky office is completed.

Hi, here henkjan,yesterday i went to mukdahan emigration office,the commissioner (a nice lady) look at my papers,dont ask for my bankbook,look at my wive,let here sight to shake my hand and say,your ritired now for 1 year,all done in 10 min.

[mrjohn]

Yes The 14000 GBP is more than enough to meet the requirements.

And to be fair, although Phuket Imm are usually less than helpful this was the first time they (or at least one of them has been rude)

Never mind its all sorted for another year. Let's hope the new govt don't see fit to shift the goalposts too much!!